Easel.



A. H. CONELLY.

BASEL.

annum,

PATENTBD Hage, 19.07.

A. H; GONELLY.

PATBNTBD 111313.26, 1907.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSS ARTHUR H. CONELLY, OF PENSACOLA, FLORIDA.

EASEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

atented Feb. 26, 1907.

Application iled January 16, 1906. Serial No. 296,353.

T ril/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR H. CONELLY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pensacola, in the county of Escambia and State of Florida, have invented new and useful Improvements in Easels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to easels designed especially for supporting books, papers, or the like, and has for its objects to produce a comparatively simple device of the character which may be inexpensively produced,

one which may be initially folded into compact form for shipment or storage, and one the parts of which may be quickly adjusted for use and securely fixed in active position.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide a device of this character which will sustain abook in proper position for reading, one which may be conveniently adjusted for varying the inclination of the book, and one wherein the book will be maintained in open osition.

With these and other objects in view the invention comprises the novel features of construction and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of an easel embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation o the same. Fig. 3 is a top plan view ofthe easel. Fig. 4 is a view showing the easel in folded or collapsed position. Fig. 5 is a detail section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the easel comprises a body 1 and side portions or wings L., formed integral with the body from a single sheet of cardboard or analogous material and adapted to be folded flat upon the body or unfolded to a position at right angles thereto, while the body is in turn adapted to be folded longitudinally on a central line 3.

Attached to the rear face of the body l. is a pairof quadrant-shaped retaining members or arms 4, projected oppositely and transversely from the body, respectively, through guide openings or slots 5, formed in the side portions 2, there being struck from each of the arms 4 a series of engaging portions or lips 6, designed to be turned outward at right angles to the arms for engagement with the side portions 2 to hold the latter in active unfolded position, it being noted in this connection that the arms 4, which are preferably composed of cardboard and normally extend in a horizontal plane, are secured to the body 1 by flexible connecting portions or strips 7, whereby they may be folded fiat upon the body when the easel is in collapsed condition, as illustrated in Fig. 4.

Struck from the body 1 and to project outward at right angles therefrom is a air of supporting ears or brackets 8, on w ich a hook' 9 may rest when in position upon the easel, there being also provided in the body 1 at points adjacent the brackets 9 openings or perforations 10, through which are threaded the ends of an elastic or other spring element 1 1, which is terminally engaged with leafeengaging elements or fingers 12, adapted to be turned into engagement with the leaves of the book for holding the same in open condition. L

In practice when the easel is collapsed for shipment or storage the side portions 2 are folded against the rear face of body 1 and held in folded condition against the rear members or sections 4, as seen in Fig. 4. Under these conditions when it is desired to use the easel the sections 4 are turned to a horizontal position, as in Fig. 3, and the side portions or wings 2 turned outward at an angle to the body 1 and fixed in proper relation thereto by bending outward from the sections 4 appropriate ones of the lips 6, it beinO" noted in this connection that by varying the angle of the wings 2 relative to the body 1 the inclination of the latter from the vertical may be regulated to hold the book in proper position relative to the eyes of the reader. The easel having been set up, as eX- plained, the bracket-ears 8 are pressed outward and the book positioned thereon, the fingers l2 being thereafter brought into action for holding the leaves of the book against accidental movement.

It is the purpose in practice to apply to the front face of wall 1 a calendar and to utilize the outer faces of the side portions 2 for the rece tion of advertising matter.

Having t us described my invention, what I claim is- 1. As a new article of manufacture, an easel com rising a body portionand a foldable wingEhaving a guidebpening, a foldable retainingmember attached to the body and slidably arranged in said opening, said member having arcuate edges curved throughout their length. concentric with the arc of movement of the wing whereby the latter may be folded or unfolded without being disengaged ICG lIO

v a pairof foldable retaining members attached .arcuate edges curved throughout their lengt-l1 .concentric with .the aro of movement of the vwith ,and to hold ythe wings in unfolded condito the body and slidably arranged respectively in said openings, said members having wings., whereby the latter may be folded or :unfolded Without being .disengaged from the member, and engaging members provided on the retaining members for engagement tion.

3. As a new article of manufacture, an easel comprising a body .portion and foldable side portions formed in a single piece therewith, said side portions being provided with guide-openings, retaining members slidably disposed in said openings and engaged with the body, and a plurality of engaging lips struck from eaehol said members and ada ted to be bent outward for engagement with the adjacent side portions to hold the same in unfolded condition.

In testimony whereof l xaliiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR H. CONELLY.

Witnesses:

E. P. PAWLEY, C. F. WELLS. 

